I do everything of my films: Ravi Kishen
Mumbai, June 21 (UNI) When God closes one door he opens another. This was what happened to actor Ravi Kishen, who after a string of not-so-successful films in Bollywood, shifted to the Bhojpuri films and is a name to reckon with in the North.
This lad from Benaras who did his graduation from Benaras University, has been acting since the age of 12. Today, after 16-17 years, he has a film made in his name 'Ravi Kishen', which opened to a bumper opening and is doing very well.
Speaking to UNI about his films and the future of Bhojpuri films, Kishen said, ''Life moves on. I came to Mumbai in 1990 to try my luck in Hindi films. I have done films like 'Army' with superstars like Sridevi and Shah Rukh Khan, 'Kudrat' with Urmila Matondkar, Akshay Khanna, 'Udhar Ki Zindagi' with Kajol and Jeetendra, 'Tere Naam' with Salman Khan and Bhumika Chawla and the latest 'Phir Hera Pheri' with Sunil Shetty and Akshay Kumar.
''My Hindi films were not doing very well, so I shifted to Bhojpuri films,'' he said.
The 35-year-old actor said he had done five films with Dharmendra and four to five films with Mithun Chakravorty. To sum it all, he had done 25 Hindi films and 20 Bhojpuri films. His persistence paid off and 98 per cent of his Bhojpuri films turned out to be silver and golden jubilee hits.
Some of his Bhojpuri hit films include 'Saiya Hamar', 'Ganga Jaisan Mai Hamar', 'Kab Hoi Gauna Hamar', 'Kab Hoi Milanva Hamar', 'Kanyadaan', 'Raja Bhojpuria', 'Panditji Bataiye Byah Kab Hoi', 'Dulha Milan Dildaar', 'Dulha Aisan Chahi', 'Mai Baap' and 'Uthai Le Ghoongta Chand Dekh Le' just to name a few.
Out of all his films, two of them with Nagma had been superhit and nine more are in the offing.
His forthcoming projects include 'Ganga' a film by Deepak Savant, superstar Amitabh Bachchan's hair dresser starring Big B, Nagma and Hema Malini. Then, there is a film produced by thespian Dilip Kumar and his wife Saira Banu called 'Ab To Banja Sajanwa Hamar' and another film where Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan makes her directorial debut called 'Dil Deewana Tohar hua'.
''All three films are ready for release,'' he said.
Another film by Bollywood action director Tinnu Verma starring Nagma is in the production stage.
''I do everything right from marketing to publicity of my films. Nothing should go wrong,'' Ravi said, adding, in future, he plans to have his own production house.
Commenting on the latest trend where successful Hindi films have been dubbed into Bhojpuri, Ravi said, ''This trend will not last. It is simple. The Bhojpuri audience will not accept an outsider. They will identify with a hero who is from their own soil.'' Commenting on the future of Bhojpuri films Ravi said, ''It is going to be as huge as Tamil and Telegu cinema. There are 27 crore Bhojpuri speaking people in India alone. And many more in other 54 countries like Mauritus, Fiji and Holland. We have our own website called www.bhojpuria.com, where one can get any information on Bhojpuri cinema and the award ceremonies.'' In January the Bhojpuri awards were held at the Goregaon Sports Complex, where Ravi Kishen won the best actor award for 'Panditji Bateye Byaah Kab Hoi' and Nagma won the best actress award for 'Dulha Milat Dildaar'.
Speaking of his fans Ravi said, ''Everybody from the Bhojpuria community loves me and even i have fans in the Hindi belt too.
They love me and accept me in any role.'' UNI LS SSS SI GC1000